Implementing cloud spectrum services modes of transaction

ABSTRACT

A system and methods are provided for specifying how multiple transactions may be initiated and/or terminated for available spectrum in a cloud spectrum services architecture. Transactions may be specified according to common time-frequency units or TFU&#39;s. Primary spectrum holders (PSH&#39;s) advertise availability of their underused spectrum, with specified parameters and conditions on procuring access to the spectrum to a regional spectrum marketplace. Requests for spectrum availability are made according to a specified number of TFU&#39;s as requested by an alternate spectrum holder (ASH) or a multi-mode device (MMD). Any of a participating PSH, an ASH, an MMD or a cloud-based entity may initiate communications with other entities in an effort to complete or facilitate a transaction by which a number of available TFU&#39;s are provided to an ASH or MMD for use.

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 61/603,261, entitled “Intelligent Spectrum Allocation Based on UserBehavior Patterns For Efficient Spectrum Usage,” filed on Apr. 11, 2012.This application is related to co-pending U.S. Patent Application Nos.PCT/US2012/035780, PCT/US2012/035760 and PCT/US2012/035748, filed Apr.30, 2012, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by referenceherein in their entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Disclosed Embodiments

This disclosure relates to systems and methods for managing channels viawhich Primary Spectrum Holders (PSH's) and Alternate Spectrum Holder(ASH's) communicate with each other, and with Content Providers (CP's),through the cloud, including interacting with a Cloud Spectrum Database(CSD) and/or a Cloud Spectrum Broker CSB), to facilitate spectrummanagement for networks using spectrum allocated through a DynamicSpectrum Access (DSA) scheme that allows PSH's, or proxies assigned tomanage a given allocations of spectrum, to temporarily “rent” access tothe spectrum they hold to other entities.

2. Related Art

The last decade and a half has witnessed an explosion in growth in theuse of, and requirements for, wireless data communications, particularlyby individual users operating, for example, through licensed wirelessnetwork operators. This growth continues unabated today as the numbersand types of wireless devices employed by individual users to access allmanner of wireless networks via various communication paths continue tomultiply, increasing demand for available spectrum. As the increase indemand for wireless data access continues, the world is headed toward aglobal spectrum shortage. There is a finite amount of spectrum that canbe tapped to support wireless data communication. Availability ofwireless spectrum for the increasing numbers and types of mobile devicesis key to the continued use of the spectrum to exchange data and toeconomic growth.

An availability of ever increasingly-capable wireless datacommunications has also created in individual customers an expectationof a certain quality of service. In short, individual wireless datacommunication consumers expect quality wireless data communications tobe available anytime and anyplace. If solutions are not found, users ofwireless devices will frustratingly experience increased instances ofdropped calls and slow data speeds all while paying higher fees foraccess to the scarce resource that will be the wireless data and voicecommunication spectrum.

Wireless devices are used to provide individual customers virtuallyinstantaneous and continuous wireless access to email, social media,applications and streaming video. These wireless devices are estimatedto use 25 to 125 times the amount of spectrum that was used by earliergeneration cellular telephones. Various industry estimates expect growthin global mobile data traffic to double every 1-2 years for theforeseeable future.

Exclusive mobile spectrum licenses carve out to their licensees portionsof the available spectrum that are used for wireless data and voicecommunication. Licensees in any geographic area include governmentagencies, which sometimes reserve communication spectrum to certain“required” wireless voice and data communications. A non-exhaustive listof these communications users includes broadcast radio and televisioncommunications, satellite communications, public safety and emergencyservices communications, military communications, and certain othercommunication requirements to include, for example, communications withaircraft for navigation and air traffic control. Licensees also includemobile cellular network operators. A cursory review of the breakdown ofthe licensed spectrum bands for any particular geographic area revealsthat the availability of new spectrum to support the assignment ofadditional exclusive licenses to any particular licensee is nearlyexhausted.

A detailed review of the challenges faced by mobile cellular networkoperators starts with an overview of their operations. Mobile cellularnetwork operators license spectrum bands for their exclusive use withinparticular geographic regions. These entities then contract withindividual customers to provide certain levels of service with expressor implied guarantees of connectivity, and of communications fidelity atincreasing rates of delivery. As mobile cellular network communicationtraffic continues its dramatic increase, congestion occurs today and thecongestion problem is forecast to rise significantly in coming years inthe portions of the spectrum currently licensed to mobile cellularnetwork operators to support wireless voice and data communications.

In the face of current and forecast issues regarding network congestionin their licensed spectrums, wireless network operators have taken topurchasing additional exclusive spectrum licenses in the secondarymarket from other exclusive licensees (spectrum holders) whose licensedspectrum is underused or otherwise available. Buying additional spectrumlicenses allows wireless network operators to build or expand theirnetworks and handle more customer traffic. In fact, in late 2011, onemajor mobile cellular network operator in the U.S. reached an agreement,subject to regulatory approval, to buy a license for a small swath ofwireless communication spectrum (around 20 MHz) from several broadcastcable companies for an amount that was reported to be in excess of threeand one half billion dollars.

Efforts are ongoing to optimize wireless data communication to make moreeffective use of available spectrum. Consider the available spectrum asa pipe with a finite maximum diameter. Ongoing efforts attempt tooptimize the flow of data through that pipe, thereby reducing the amountof spectrum used. These efforts include use of compression techniques,video optimization and burst transmissions such that overall datatransmission through the pipe is streamlined and optimized, i.e.,techniques are implemented to pass larger amounts of data in whatappears to be a smaller volume of flow through the pipe. Additionalefforts are focused on concepts such as Wi-Fi offload or small celldevelopment to ease the burden on the saturated portions of the spectrumexclusively licensed to mobile cellular network operators. All effortsat making data flow more efficient, thereby improving spectralefficiency, will reap benefits. Regardless of these efforts, however,the pipe will never get any bigger due to the fixed, finite spectrumcovered by licenses. The above efforts may delay the inevitable. Therewill still come a time, however, when currently licensed portions of thespectrum that support mobile voice and data communications will beoverburdened. When this overburdening occurs, a mobile cellular networkoperator has at its disposal methods, some of which are used today, bywhich to maintain service across its exclusively-licensed spectrum forall of its individual customers. Often these methods reduce the qualityof service experienced by individual customers. Common techniquesinclude, for example, mobile cellular network operators “throttling”rates at which data may be received by individual customers. As with anysupply and demand scheme, a wireless network operator can extract apremium from certain of its individual customers according tocurrently-licensed spectrum for its use to prioritize which of theindividual customers get “throttled” last.

SUMMARY OF DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS

A review of utilization of certain of the above-discussed licensedspectrums, other than those licensed to mobile cellular networkoperators, reveals that, although allocated to a specific entity for useat particularly scheduled times or on an as-needed basis, an overallrate of utilization of certain licensees spectrum may actually be verylow. The spectrum that is allocated to certain services, other thanvoice and data communication and Wi-Fi services, may experience actualoverall average utilization rates as low as 1%. For example, someentities only require high use of their spectrum in times of emergency.Theoretically, across the wireless spectrum below 6 GHz, more than halfis underused.

One industry solution that has been suggested would be to allowindividual wireless devices to conduct autonomous spectrum sensing todetect unused spectrum and to tap into that spectrum for individualwireless device use on an ad hoc basis. This “open market” or“opportunistic” method, which allows the individual customer to seek outand use the most effective and economical service regardless of how thatservice is delivered to the individual customer's wireless device, isnot according to the current paradigm. This method appears, according tocurrent technology, to pose a level of chaos that will not solve theproblem. Additionally, spectrum holders whose spectrum may be accessedrequire full control of their spectrum at times without interferencefrom any encroaching wireless devices. The spectrum sensing solutionwould disrupt such control and might introduce interference. There maycome a time when an open market method may be feasibly implemented. Atthat time, it will be appropriate to include in that method a version ofthe brokering scheme discussed below.

Some have suggested that the allocation of spectrum should implementutility models based on fairness, content type, and differences inproviders. This suggested solution is largely discounted as it ispostulated to create fragmentation and lead to inefficiencies that wouldonly exacerbate the currently-forecast difficulties. Others havesuggested using cognitive pilot channels (wireless spectrum) toadvertise available unused or underused spectrum. This “solution,”however, would require use of additional spectrum to implement theadvertising and would be largely uncontrolled leading to increasedchaos. Use of static databases to locate unused spectrum has also beenproposed, but is not considered dynamic enough to use available spectralresources to the fullest extent possible. Spectrum required to maintaina given level of Quality of Service (QoS) to individual users for anygiven period in any given location could be dynamically changing,particularly for certain applications and/or when the users are mobile.This calls for requiring an equally dynamic automated solution by whichto manage spectrum allocation. The problems of overcrowding in certainportions of the spectrum can be alleviated by executing a disciplinedscheme to tap into the underused portions of the spectrum in a mannerthat meets the requirements of all of the respective licensees.

In contrast to the open market method described above is a controlledmarket method. The controlled market method is based on the mobilecellular network operator/individual customer model in place today. Anindividual customer does not generally access spectrum except throughthe licensed spectrum controlled by the mobile cellular network operatorthat provides the service and equipment to the individual customer. Itis in this model that the mobile cellular network operator provides acontracted-for level of service with certain guarantees and disclaimers,while exercising some level of control. For example, based on thisrelationship, the mobile cellular network operator can throttle anindividual customer's access to wireless communications by slowing therate at which those communications are provided to the individualcustomer's wireless device. The mobile cellular network operator couldalso block data transmissions from reaching the individual customer'swireless device. The mobile cellular network operator can also controlwhat applications individual customers may be able to access, and whatapplications the individual customers' wireless devices may support.Because the controlled market method is the method generally in placetoday, the balance of this disclosure will refer to implementation ofthe disclosed systems and methods in a controlled market. It should berecognized, however, that the systems and methods according to thisdisclosure may be equally enabled in an open market method if an openmarket method becomes the paradigm for supporting individual customers'wireless communication needs. Also, the term mobile cellular networkoperator is used to generically refer to any commercial provider thatexclusively licenses spectrum in support of providing wireless data andvoice communications to a number of individual users on a for-fee basis.

Based on the above shortfalls, a new paradigm is emerging for globalspectrum optimization in a controlled environment. New to the wirelessindustry is a discussion of temporary spectrum license rental/leasing asopposed to spectrum license sale via auction or secondary markettransactions. Exclusive licensees of unused or underused spectrum mayprovide an amount of spectrum with certain terms and conditions at aparticular time, in a particular location, to the marketplace in whichlicensees that require additional spectrum may acquire temporary accessto the offered spectrum for a fee or appropriate consideration. There isa worldwide push for regulations that allow licensed spectrum holders totemporarily transfer, e.g. rent or lease, access to their unused orunderused spectrum to other entities requiring spectrum such as mobilecellular network operators. This creates a win-win situation where theother licensees gain access to additional spectrum resources, whichwould not otherwise be available, while the spectrum holders with unusedor underused spectrum get a financial incentive or other consideration.This may be particularly attractive to the large majority of licensedspectrum holders whose utilization is well less than 100%, but that arenot able to relinquish the spectrum completely through sale or othertransaction based on their need to keep the spectrum reserved to theirown use in certain areas at certain times.

According to proposed schemes, multiple PSH's having underused spectrummay act as spectrum suppliers. Multiple ASH's, such as, for example,mobile cellular network operators, may seek to augment their ownexclusively-licensed spectrum by obtaining additional spectrumavailability from the spectrum suppliers as, for example, spectrumrenters. The mobile cellular network operator needs to support itsindividual customers operating its individual wireless devices connectedto the mobile cellular network. The mobile cellular network operator isin a position to monitor the use of its network by its individualcustomers according to time and location. When the mobile cellularnetwork operator determines that its licensed spectrum will not meetcustomer demand for a particular location at a particular time, e.g.,busiest periods of the day, the mobile cellular network operator, actingas an ASH, may execute a transaction such as, for example, placing areal-time bid for spectrum, to temporarily acquire additional spectrumin a particular location at a particular time that has been madeavailable by a PSH in a controlled marketplace.

Prior to offering portions of its underused spectrum to the marketplacefor access by potential ASH's, the PSH generally needs to be assuredthat it can regain control of its spectrum when a need arises. A clearmechanism to support such assurances is provided in the exemplaryembodiments discussed in this disclosure. As discussed in thisdisclosure, this scheme allows PSH's to temporarily rent their spectrumto ASH's on the condition that the rented spectrum can be reclaimed bythe PSH on demand. It is estimated that, through implementation of sucha scheme across all spectrum to 6 GHz, as much as 75% of the underusedspectrum below 6 GHz may be recovered for use by multiple ASH's. Thiscomplete recovery would require full implementation of a brokeringscheme and full cooperation from all PSH's. Actual implementation mayinitially realize a recovery of spectrum at well less than 2 GHz as itis anticipated that certain PSH's may choose not to participate, andothers may temper their participation. To put the above numbers in someperspective, however, it should be realized that a 500 MHz recoverywould effectively double the amount of spectrum currently available formobile cellular network communications.

A challenge in achieving an efficient and scalable ISA scheme thatbecomes economically viable is effective spectrum management. In otherwords, given the temporary lease of spectrum to different operators orusers, in different locations, for different time periods, a challengeresides in determining how best to coordinate the lease of the spectrumso that the brokering scheme maximizes: (1) the incentive for ASH's; (2)the incentive for PSH's and (3) experience for the user/operator that ispaying for that spectrum (ideally, with minimal cost), all whileavoiding interference and assuring the PSH that its spectrum isrecoverable on demand. This is an optimization problem that lends itselfto use of computational analytics. Currently, there are no known globalspectrum management schemes with computational analytics across networksemploying ISA. While wireless network operators make use of spectrummanagement within their own networks, there is no cross-network, orcross-operator, spectrum management between potential ASH's. Today, withspectrum exclusively licensed, there has been no push for large scalespectrum management. However, with future spectrum exhaustion of theirexclusively-licensed spectrum expected by carriers, the larger pool ofrented spectrum provides a greater pool of spectrum resources from whichto optimize utilization, i.e., optimization would no longer be limitedto just the local spectrum resources of each individual carrier.

An overarching CSS approach to realizing a form of DSA centered on thecloud is proposed in U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/603,261.Specifically, the cloud is envisioned as the mechanism to enablemanagement, in real-time or in near real-time, of the dynamicallocation, reclaiming, de-allocation, auditing, and optimizing the useof spectrum that has been the subject of a transaction between PSH's andoperators/users/content providers acting as ASH's.

Application No. PCT/US2012/035780 proposes a two-level spectrummanagement analytic optimization that effectively bifurcates spectrumoptimization requirements and responsibilities between a regional globalspectrum broker and a series of local spectrum brokers acting under anumbrella of the regional global spectrum broker. The approach describedin the 780 Application proposes to keep from overburdening the regionalglobal spectrum broker's, and local spectrum brokers', computationalcapabilities by effectively managing individual optimizationrequirements between the global spectrum broker and local spectrumbrokers. That application specifically discusses a concept of local andglobal optimization for spectrum management according to a specifiedbrokering scheme.

As an aid to the optimization described in the 780 Application,Application No PCT/US2012/035760 describes inputs, outputs andguidelines of an algorithm used to resolve spectrum optimization at oneor both of the global and local spectrum broker levels described in the780 Application. Each of the inputs discussed in the 760 Application maybe employed to generate appropriate output profiles for multi-modedevices (MMD's), or wireless devices, in support of the DSA. The 760Application specifically describes implementing a spectrum managementanalytics (SMA) algorithm that references a plurality of enumeratedinputs to generate a set of output parameters for use by an MMD inoptimizing spectrum use for the spectrum resources made available tothat MMD. The SMA algorithm is described as being a part of a cloudspectrum broker (CSB) analytics. The CSB analytics provides for: (1)Managing CSS transactions involving transfer of spectrum resources fromparticipating PSH's to one or more ASH's: (2) Reclaiming spectrumresources from an ASH back to the corresponding PSH on request; (3)Initiating queries to PSH's based on requests from MMD's, or throughother ASH's; and (4) Performing a series of predictive resourceallocations that may optimize spectrum use as the MMD moves between anumber of regions.

The multiple and varied sources of information generally described inthe 100611 Application provide information regarding: a radio interface,MMD capabilities, base station capabilities, information from geographicdatabases, information from a spectrum availability database (such as aCSD), information from an MMD profile database, and informationregarding outstanding requests, which may represent a compilation ofapplication characteristics, MMD mobility models, and information onvisible networks.

To realize the CSS approach described in the 261 ProvisionalApplication, a cloud spectrum database (CSD) is proposed, with detailprovided in related Application No. PCT/US2012/035748 to serve as adynamic and interactive repository for several of the classes ofinformation discussed in the 760 Application associated with adynamically changing listing of spectrum availabilities. The systems andmethods described in the 748 Application implement the CSD by whichspectrum availability is defined and cataloged according to individualdata elements and offered for transactions with ASH's and MMD'saccording to a common unit measurement system. In the 748 Applicationdisclosure, the defined metric for the disclosed common unit measurementsystem is referred to as a time-frequency unit or TFU. One TFU may bedefined, for example, according to a unit of spectrum being availablefor a specified time, e.g., 1 MHz of spectrum being available for usefor 1 second at a given location. Every spectrum resource negotiated inCSS transactions may be represented (transferred) in multiples of TFU's,each TFU representing a contiguous time by frequency tile.

The 748 Application specifies that, in the CSD, spectrum availabilitymay be defined according to a plurality of information entries,including at least a frequency band (band ID), a start frequency and anend frequency. Each entry may also be accompanied by a series ofindividual parameters that may be used to further describe the spectrumavailability in order that an ASH or MMD may make an offer foracquisition of several units of spectrum availability according to theinformation provided. These individual parameters may include: (1) anindication that the available spectrum is licensed; (2) an indicationthat the available spectrum is subject to being reclaimed by the PSHthat made the spectrum available to the CSD, i.e., subject topre-emption by the PSH, with appropriate details of the immediacy, forexample, of the recall; (3) a start time of the spectrum availability;(4) an end time of the spectrum availability; (5) a maximum power levelthat the PSH authorizes to use over this available spectrum; (6) ageographic location regarding this available spectrum; (7) a cost(monetary or other consideration) per TFU, or other appropriate unitprice, for use of the available spectrum; and (8) an indication of anidentity of an ASH or MMD using a particular portion of the availablespectrum based on a transaction such that, in a case that a PSH wants toreclaim the spectrum that it made available, but that is in use, the CSDwill facilitate contact with the entity to ensure that the entity'sceases operation in that spectrum.

Exemplary embodiments according to this disclosure may implement the CSSprocess and interaction among PSH's, ASH's, CP's. MMD's, a CSB and a CSDby defining types and mechanisms through which a PSH and an ASH maycommunicate with each other and with the CP's through the cloud.

Exemplary embodiments may specify how multiple transactions may beinitiated and/or terminated. Individual CSS transactions, as specified,may be of different types and involve different elements of the CSSarchitecture discussed above.

Exemplary embodiments may specify transactions being made according tothe above-described TFU, or other common unit measurement system. Inthis regards, requests for spectrum availability discussed in greaterdetail below may be made according to a specified number of TFU'srequested by an ASH or MMD with an indication of the willingness of theASH or MMD to provide specified monetary compensation or other forms ofconsideration to secure the requested TFU's in a given location. In likemanner, responses to such requests may specify exchange of informationover multiples of TFUs.

Exemplary embodiments may specify ASH-side (ASH-initiated) transactionsas follows. An ASH, or an MMD connected to/through an ASH, may initiatea transaction by sending a request message to the CSB and/or CSD in aparticular geographic region. This message may contain a plurality ofthe transaction parameters described above including most specificallyrequested TFU's.—The ASH, or the MMD, may receive a response from theCSB and/or CSD an availability of the requested TFU's, including anyassociated parameters and conditions as specified by the offeringPSH.—The MMD connected to/through the ASH may receive transactioninformation, e.g., a Service Level Agreement (SLA) from a CP through theCSB and/or CSD for implementing a specific application.

Exemplary embodiments may specify PSH-side (PSH-initiated) transactionsas follows. A PSH may advertise availability of its spectrum in the formof multiple TFU's. The PSH may indicate associated parameters andconditions for consideration by interested ASH's and MMD's. Theinformation on spectrum availability, with associated parameters andconditions, if any, may be communicated via the CSD and/orCSB.—Alternatively, the PSH may respond to requests from the CSD and/orthe CSB for its available TFU's with any associated parameters andconditions that the PSH may impose on the availability.

In exemplary embodiments, the CSD and/or the CSB may initiate thedialogue with the PSH. The PSH may receive queries from the CSD and/orthe CSB for availability of its TFU's and for a specification by the PSHof associated parameters and conditions with regard to those TFU's.—ThePSH may responds to the CSD and/or the CSB queries with availability ofits TFU's and the associated parameters and conditions.

Exemplary embodiments may provide a mechanism by which the PSH may senda “STOP” or a “STOP <time>” message to the CSD and/or the CSB, with itsassociated parameters and conditions, to halt an existing transaction,with the purpose of releasing the PSH's TFUs involved in the transactionback to the use of the PSH.

These and other features, and advantages, of the disclosed systems andmethods are described in, or apparent from, the following detaileddescription of various exemplary embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various exemplary embodiments of the disclosed systems and methods formanaging channels via which PSH's and ASH's communicate with each other,and with CP's, through the cloud, including interacting with a CSD, forfacilitating spectrum management for networks using spectrum allocatedthrough a DSA scheme that allows the PSH's, or proxies assigned tomanage a given allocations of spectrum, to temporarily “rent” access tothe spectrum they hold to other entities will be described, in detail,with reference to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary overview of connectivity to the cloudfor individual entities involved in the CSS scheme according to thisdisclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary overview of individual CSS transactionsthat may be conducted between different elements of the CSS architectureaccording to this disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary system for managingconnectivity between the different elements of the CSS architecture forundertaking individual CSS transactions according to this disclosure;and

FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart of a first exemplary method forfacilitating connectivity and transactions between the differentelements of the CSS architecture according to this disclosure; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of a second exemplary method forfacilitating connectivity and transactions between the differentelements of the CSS architecture according to this disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS

The systems and methods for managing channels via which PSH's and ASH'scommunicate with each other, and with CP's, through the cloud, includinginteracting with a CSD and/or a CSB, for facilitating spectrummanagement for networks using spectrum allocated through a DSA schemethat allows the PSH's, or proxies assigned to manage a given allocationsof spectrum, to temporarily “rent” access to the spectrum they hold toother entities will generally refer to this specific utility for thosesystems and methods. Exemplary embodiments described and depicted inthis disclosure should not be interpreted as being specifically limitedto particular communication paths, or to specific system infrastructuresfor exchanging information with PSH's, ASH's or MMD's, except that atleast some of the elements of the disclosed systems, and methods forusing those systems, are cloud based.

While reference will appear to be directed, throughout this disclosure,to application of the disclosed systems and methods to a conventionallyunderstood “controlled market” method for providing wirelesscommunication services via one or more ASH's, it should be understoodthat the systems and methods according to this disclosure are notlimited to the conventionally understood “controlled market” method. Thedisclosed systems and methods may be equally applicable to any methodfor providing wireless communication services through direct interactionwith individual MMD's, thereby avoiding any ASH, when such a methodbecomes feasibly implemented for the control of wireless communication.The discussion references application to the “controlled market” methodonly for familiarity and ease of understanding of the proposedimplementation based on the currently-understood protocols forimplementing commercial wireless (cellular) communication.

Specific reference to, for example, any particular MMD, wireless deviceor wireless (mobile cellular) network configuration should be understoodas being exemplary only, and not limited, in any manner, to anyparticular class of MMD's or other wireless devices used in anyparticular configuration of a wireless network, whether fixed or mobile,or as autonomous units capable of executing transactions for availablespectrum directly with cloud based elements of a system such as a CSDand/or a CSB.

Individual features and advantages of the disclosed systems and methodswill be set forth in the description that follows, and will be, in part,obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of thefeatures described in this disclosure. The features and advantages ofthe systems and methods according to this disclosure may be realized andobtained by means of the individual elements, and combinations of thoseelements, as particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Whilespecific exemplary implementations are discussed, it should beunderstood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A personskilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components andconfigurations may be used without departing from the spirit and scopeof the subject matter of this disclosure.

The 780, 760 and 748 Applications explain that review of spectrum useindicates that there are a large number of inputs that may be consideredin optimizing spectrum use. These inputs include time-based,location-based and frequency-based parameters. Information collected andstored in a CSD according to the 748 Application is intended to capturea plurality of these parameters to describe spectrum availability in asingle location as part of a cloud based spectrum marketplace. PSH'swhose spectrum is underused or otherwise can be made available mayemploy the marketplace to advertise the specific availability of, todynamically barter for use of, or to passively allow the system toauction off, their spectrum availability by listing relevant time-based,location-based and frequency-based parameters relevant to any of thesetransactions, as well as to list a proposed unit cost expressed in TFU'sor otherwise. With implementation of such a marketplace. PSH's who knowhow often, how much, and generally at what times, they employ thespectrum exclusively licensed to them, may populate the CSD withinformation appropriate to catalog their proposed spectrum availability.PSH's may indicate periods when their spectrum is available, in orderthat potential ASH's as entities that require or desire additionalspectrum services, perhaps at specific times in specific locations, mayenter into a transaction based on the listed periods of spectrumavailability provided to the marketplace via the CSD.

The availability of the spectrum to the CSD will sometimes be subject tothe PSH's ability to reclaim that spectrum on demand preempting the useof the spectrum by an ASH or MMD. This disclosure will interchangeablyrefer to such an occurrence as reclaiming or preempting spectrum use.This capacity is part of the system that implements the CSD-basedmarketplace scheme. This requirement, and the level of uncertainty, mayalso drive the amount of a fee, or other consideration, that the ASH maybe willing to offer for the spectrum availability. If, for example, itis more unlikely than likely that the spectrum will need to be reclaimedimmediately in, for example, a peak period for operations by the ASH,that spectrum may garner a higher cost per TFU than spectrum that may beimmediately recallable and is likely to be recalled on some routinebasis.

The CSD and/or the CSB may provide the basis by which the marketplacemay oversee transactions regarding available spectrum according to amechanism incumbent to the CSD, and/or actively undertaken by the CSB,that records, in a manner that may inform at least the PSH, what entityor entities are “renting” available spectrum of the PSH at anyparticular point in time. This may be appropriate so that the PSH canindicate to a renting ASH, based on information in the CSD and/or viathe CSB, a requirement to reclaim the spectrum to the PSH's use.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary overview 100 of connectivity to thecloud 110 for individual entities involved in the CSS architecture. Asshown in FIG. 1, the individual entities may include: one or moremulti-mode devices (MMD's) 120 communicating directly with other of theentities via the cloud 110, or otherwise through an alternate spectrumholder (ASH) 130 with which the one or more MMD's 120 are incommunication; one or more primary spectrum holders (PSH's) 140; one ormore content providers (CP's) 150; at least one regional cloud spectrumbroker (CSB) 160; and a generally regional cloud spectrum database (CSD)170. Although depicted as separate elements in FIG. 1, one or more ofthe elements representing the individual entities 120-170 may actuallybe resident in the cloud 110. This may be particularly the situationwith the CSD 170.

Certain of the individual entities 120-170 shown in FIG. 1 may initiaterequests for information or respond to those initiated requests in amanner shown, for example, in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplaryoverview 200 of individual CSS transactions that may be conductedbetween different entities representing elements of the CSSarchitecture. An exemplary scheme of paths by which individual entitiesmay communicate with each other and the substance of thosecommunications are enumerated in FIG. 2. In general, transactions may berequest based, supply based or advertising based.

As shown in FIG. 2, an MMD, for example, may request to execute anapplication. That application may require additional spectrum serviceswhich may be provided, for example, by either a CSB directly, or via anASH with which the MMD is communicating.

A CSD may send a “STOP” or “STOP <time>” message to be forwarded by aCSB to one or more MMD's or ASH process. The CSD may request negotiationfor an amount of spectrum availability from a PSH, or may simply forwarda query to the PSH regarding any available spectrum.

A CSB may initiate a request for negotiation with an MMD. Uponcompletion of a transaction, the CSB may write profile information tothe MMD. Also, as indicated above, the CSB may forward a “STOP” or “STOP<time>” message to an MMD. The CSB may respond to a request foravailability information from, or write availability information to, theCSD. The CSB may actually act as a hub for all of these communicationsbetween the different entities. In like manner to the CSD, the CSB mayrequest negotiation for an amount of spectrum availability from a PSH,or may simply forward a query to the PSH regarding any availablespectrum.

A PSH may request directly of an MMD profile information or that the PSHcan advertise to the MMD spectrum availability. The ASH may writespectrum availability to the CSD and/or the CSB, and may also forward tothe CSD and/or otherwise to the CSB a “STOP” or a “STOP <time>” message.

An ASH may request availability from the CSB or have profiles to bepassed to MMD's sent to it by the CSB.

A CP may coordinate writing of an SLA within MMD via the CSB.

The specific transactions, as delineated above, are presented only inexemplary form, and are not intended to be all-encompassing. Othercombinations of communications and specific transactions are notintended to exclude and may be executed in the same manner astransactions discussed above.

Separate and distinct modes and methods of operation are providedthrough which spectrum availability from one or more PSH's may betransferred according to one or more of the specified transactions to aplurality of MMD's, directly or via an ASH with which the plurality ofMMD's communicate.

In one mode or method, an MMD or ASH may request spectrum, andspecifically may request an enumerated number of TFU's. In essence, theASH may consult a virtual catalogue of spectrum availability that may bein the form of a CSD. All requests for spectrum availability may be madeaccording to a specified number of TFU's requested by an ASH or MMD withan indication of the willingness of the ASH or MMD to provide specifiedmonetary compensation or other consideration to secure the requestedTFU's in a given location. In like manner, all responses may specifyexchange of information over multiples of TFUs. One or more cloudentities including, for example, the CSD or the CSB may negotiate inreal time, or may have previously negotiated, with one or more PSH's forsome amount of spectrum availability, in increments of TFU's, with anyassociated parameters or conditions related to the spectrumavailability. The cloud entity may record a transaction that matchesspecified spectrum availability with the request of the MMD or ASHaccording to a monetary fee or other form of consideration paid for thetransacted TFU's.

In this mode or method, the ASH-side or ASH-initiated transaction mayproceed as follows. An ASH, or an MMD connected to/through an ASH, mayinitiate a transaction by sending a request message to the CSB in aparticular geographic region. This message may contain a plurality ofthe transaction parameters described above including most specificallyrequested TFU's.—The ASH, or the MMD connected to/through the ASH, mayreceive a response from the CSB on availability of the requested TFU's,including associated parameters and conditions.—The MMD) connectedto/through the ASH may receive transaction information, e.g., a ServiceLevel Agreement (SLA) from a CP through the CSB.

In another mode or method, the PSH may advertise its available spectrumto a cloud-based marketplace by, for example, listing spectrumavailability in cloud based components such as a CSD, making theavailability of spectrum known to virtual cloud based entities such as,for example, a CSB, or directing specific spectrum availabilityopportunities to one or more MMD's or ASH's that are known by the PSH togenerally require spectrum in a particular location at a particular timeand according to a particular frequency. In this mode, the PSH takes amore active role than simply populating a database with providedspectrum availability. The active role taken by the PSH is directed atthe PSH garnering to itself maximum profits in monetary compensation orother consideration for access to its provided spectrum. It isanticipated that this active PSI approach will engender a level ofcompetition between PSH's that will be governed according to theeconomic rules of supply and demand.

In this mode or method, a PSH-side or PSH-initiated transaction mayproceed as follows. A PSH may advertise availability of its spectrum inthe form of multiple TFU's. The PSH may indicate associated parametersand conditions for the consideration of interested ASH's and MMD's. Theinformation on spectrum availability, with associated parameters may begenerally communicated via the CSD and/or the CSB.—Alternatively, thePSH may respond to requests from the CSD and/or the CSB for itsavailable TFU's with associated parameters and conditions.—The PSH mayreceive queries from the CSD and/or the CSB for availability of itsTFU's and the associated parameters and conditions.—The PSH may respondsto the CSD and/or the CSB queries with availability of its TFU's and theassociated parameters and conditions.—

The cloud entity optimization process such as that discussed in, forexample, the [0061]Application may overlie this active competition byPSH's to maximize profit for their available TFU's. Multiple PSH's mayadvertise their available spectrum. Multiple ASH's will make their needsfor spectrum known. The cloud entities such as, for example, a CSB, willoversee optimization of the spectrum in a particular region by one of(1) allocating spectrum resources in an optimal manner by facilitatingspectrum availability transactions between PSH's and ASH's, or (2)responding to direct transactions between ASH's and PSH's by otherwiseoptimizing spectrum availability around those transactions.

Spectrum availability may be specified in either of the above modes ormethods according to a plurality of defining parameters. The definingparameters may include, for example, identification of a frequency band,and/or separate implication of a start frequency and an end frequency,which may be used cooperatively or independently to define the frequencyof the spectrum availability. The defining parameters may includeinformation regarding the PSH's control over the spectrum madeavailable. This information may include, for example, any conditions onpotential preemption by the PSH.

The defining parameters may include a number of other fields ofinformation on including a start time and an end time, which takentogether specify an “availability window” for this particular spectrumavailability. The definition of an availability window will aid an ASHor MMD in determining whether a particular offered spectrum availabilitymeets the requirements of the ASH or MMD. When taken in combination withdefinition of details regarding potential preemption, the availabilitywindow provides a best guess by the PSH regarding its ability to provideuninterrupted spectrum availability.

By defining start times and end times for the TFU's, the PSH isgenerally considered to have specified an “availability window” thatallows the PSH to specify when the respective TFU's are available, andmore specifically, outside of which when those TFU's are to be vacatedby the ASH or MMD. In other words, available TFU entries may becomeautomatically unavailable outside the specified availability windows TheTFU's additionally may be subject to being reclaimed by the offering PSHat any time by, for example, the PSH sending a “STOP” or “STOP <time>”message. The “STOP” or “STOP <time>” message may be the mechanism usedby the PSH to reclaim previously made-available TFU's made available tothe CSD) and/or the CSB when a need arises within a particularavailability window. When circumstances arise that require the PSH toreclaim the use of its spectrum, the CSD and/or the CSB may notify theassociated ASH or MMD using the procured TFU's to discontinue use of thereclaimed TFU's immediately (counting propagation and typical protocoldelay inherent to any wireless communication system) in the case of a“STOP” message, or no later than the value indicated by the <time>parameter of the “STOP <time> message. The CSD) and/or the CSB therebymay cause information to be transmitted to the controlling ASH, ordirectly to a using MMD, to cease use of the TFU's made available by thePSH.

The defining parameters may include information on a reference locationfor the spectrum availability. As indicated above, spectrum availabilityincludes at least three components. These are (1) the frequency-basedcomponent, (2) the time-based component, and (3) the location-basedcomponent. The reference location provided with respect to the spectrumavailability addresses this last component. It may be described in termsof known geographic reference point parameters of latitude, longitude,altitude and radius. The description of a reference location is,however, not limited to specification of these known geographicreference point parameters, and may be specified according to otherknown methods.

The defining parameters may include information on a particular cost perspectrum unit, specified in this disclosure with reference to TFU's toprovide a common framework for the discussion. It should be understoodthat other metrics may be used in place of a TFU, and that “cost” may bemet according to monetary or other considerations. It should be furtherunderstood that individual costs for spectrum availability, measured inTFU's may be predicated on any number of factors by which the PSH mayseek to maximize its profits. The PSH may, for example, study usagepatterns in a particular geographic location and establish differentcosts per TFU for different time frames, for different locations, and/orfor different frequencies. Further, as indicated above, the PSI mayexact a higher premium for spectrum made available with the guaranteethat the spectrum will not be preempted in a particular availabilitywindow, or otherwise with a guarantee that a specified reasonable delaybetween notification of preemption and actual preemption may be providedto the ASH or MMD in a particular availability window. All of the aboveconsiderations on the part of the PSH may constitute elements to anadvertising scheme when the PSH takes an active role in advertising itsavailable spectrum to individual ASH's or MMD's.

It should be understood that, with regard to spectrum availability ingeneral, and the several defining parameters discussed above,information provided may remain reasonably static over a particulartimeframe, may change slowly over that particular timeframe, or maychange very dynamically. Because certain elements of the definingparameters may change very dynamically, each of the entities involved inthe transaction communication process described above should beresponsive to these dynamic changes in the information provided. Anability to keep pace with the rapidly changing landscape of themarketplace may define a requirement for a fully automated computationengine as a CSB, or to appropriately support and employ the CSD, in amanner that accounts for the dynamically changing conditions regardingany of the specified parameters on a real-time or near real-time basis.

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary system 300 formanaging connectivity between the different elements of the CSSarchitecture for undertaking individual CSS transactions. The exemplarysystem 300 is available to facilitate interaction with a cloud-basedentity 360 such as, for example, CSD or CSB. The exemplary system 300may assist the cloud-based entity 360 in determining what spectrum maybe available in a specific location for a specified period of time andin a particular frequency band, as well as defining what a specific userentity may have to offer in compensation in order to gain access toTFT's of the available spectrum. The cloud-based entity 360 mayfacilitate communication of information between all of the individualentities, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and may manage information providedfrom, and acts as an interface to, the various entities. The cloud-basedentity 360 provides a vehicle by which information may be providedregarding commonly represented spectrum availability by managingindividual parameters and conditions associated with the spectrumavailability as provided by a PSH, or as requested by an ASH or MMD. Inthis regard, the cloud-based entity 360 may provide anappropriately-supported interactive vehicle by which the exemplarysystem 300 may efficiently facilitate transactions regarding availablespectrum provided by individual PSH's, to include a mechanism for thereturn of spectrum to the use of the PSH upon request from the PSH toreclaim that spectrum.

The exemplary system 300 may include a user interface 310 by which anindividual or entity tasked with monitoring and/or overseeinginteraction with the cloud-based entity 360 may make manual inputs tothe exemplary system 300, and may otherwise communicate information viathe exemplary system 300 to one or more PSH's, ASH's, MMD's or CP's. Theuser interface 310 may be configured as one or more conventionalmechanisms that permit an individual or entity to input information tothe exemplary system 300.

The significant amounts of dynamic information to be exchanged in theabove-described modes and methods for facilitating transactions for theacquisition and use of appropriate multiples of TFU's as made availableto the spectrum availability marketplace by one or more PSH's willlikely be dynamic enough that those inputs could not be input via amanual user interface 310. Rather, information from one or more of theseveral entity shown in, for example, FIGS. 1 and 2, may be received bythe exemplary system 300 as automated inputs through an externalcommunication interface 350, or some other automated channel. This levelof automation and data exchange is appropriate to ensure that theexemplary system 300 plays its part in facilitating the transactionsregarding spectrum availability in real time, or near real-time, inorder to keep pace with the dynamically changing requirements providedby the one or more PSH's, ASH's or MMD's.

The exemplary system 300 may include one or more local processors 320for individually undertaking the processing and control functions forstoring information in appropriate storage devices such as, for example,data storage devices 330, or a CSD when the cloud-based entity 360 isconfigured as a CSD or otherwise supports a CSD. Processor(s) 320 mayinclude at least one conventional processor or microprocessor thatinterprets and executes instructions and processes data, incoming for,and outgoing from, the cloud-based entity 360.

The exemplary system 300 may include one or more data storage devices330. Such data storage device(s) 330, which may include hard diskstorage as well as solid-state devices, may be used to store data, andoperating programs or applications to be used by the exemplary system300, and specifically by the processor(s) 320. Data storage device(s)330 may include a random access memory (RAM) or another type of dynamicstorage device that stores information and instructions for execution bythe processor(s) 320. Data storage device(s) 330 may also include aread-only memory (ROM), which may include a conventional ROM device oranother type of static storage device that stores static information andinstructions for execution by the processor(s) 320. The data storagedevice(s) 330 may be those that are integral to the exemplary system300, or otherwise may be remotely located from, and accessible to, theexemplary system 300.

The exemplary system 300 may include at least one data display device340 by which information regarding the status of any particulartransaction, and information received regarding available TFU's may bemonitored by an individual user or a user entity tasked withfacilitating transactions for TFU's of spectrum availability using theexemplary system 300. The data display device 340 may be configured asone or more conventional mechanisms that display information toindividuals or entities interacting with the exemplary system 300 foroperation of the exemplary system 300, or otherwise for interacting withthe cloud-based entity 360 via the exemplary system 300.

The exemplary system 300 may include at least one external communicationinterface 550. The external communication interface 350 may incorporatea plurality of individual information exchange interfaces by which theexemplary system 300 may communicate with one or more of the entitiesshown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in order to provide support from the exemplarysystem 300 to the cloud-based entity 360. The communication from theenumerated entities may include, for example, obtaining from PSH'sindications of available TFU's of spectrum, or obtaining from ASH's andMMD's associated with ASH's, or directly, offers to procure availableTFU's of spectrum according to one or both of the modes/methodsdescribed above. The exemplary external communication interface 350 mayinclude a capacity to determine an identity of any of the depicted anddescribed entities attempting to interact with the cloud-based entity360. In this manner, the exemplary external communication interface 350may act as a form of a gatekeeper to verify authorization, according toknown methods, of a particular entity to access the cloud-based entity360 via the exemplary system 300.

All of the various components of the exemplary system 300, as depictedin FIG. 3, may be connected by one or more data/control busses 370. Thedata/control bus(ses) 370 may provide internal wired and/or wirelesscommunication between the various components of the exemplary system300. In a preferred embodiment, the data/control bus(ses) 370 willprovide wireless communication to cloud-based components including, andspecifically the cloud-based entity 360. Based on the cloud-based natureof the system architecture, it should be understood that all or some ofthe components of the exemplary system 300 may be remotely located withrespect to each other as actual or virtual logical components of theexemplary system 300. The exemplary system 300, therefore, provides anappropriate interface/gateway to the individually-enumerated entitiesshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, via one or more cloud-based entities 360supported by the exemplary system 300.

It is anticipated that the various disclosed elements of the exemplarysystem 300 may be arranged in combinations of sub-systems as individualcomponents or combinations of components, integral to a single unit orremotely dispersed as a plurality of elements or sub-units comprisingthe exemplary system 300. As indicated above, at least one or more ofthe components of the exemplary system 300 will be hosted by, orresident in, the cloud.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart of a first exemplary method forfacilitating connectivity and transactions between the differentelements of the CSS architecture according to this disclosure. As shownin FIG. 4, operation of the method commences at Step S4000 and proceedsto Step S4100.

In Step S4100, an ASH or an MMD connected to an ASH may initiate atransaction by, for example, forwarding a request for TFU's to acloud-based entity. The request message generated by the ASH or the MMDmay include specific transaction parameters. The specific transactionparameters may include, for example, a time and location for which thespecified number of TFU's are requested. The specific transactionparameters may include an indication of a preferred frequency band forthe requested TFU's. The specific transaction parameters may furtherinclude an indication of an amount of monetary compensation or otherconsideration that the ASH or MMD may be willing to pay for access tothe TFU's. Operation of the method proceeds to Step S4200.

In Step S4200, the receiving cloud-based entity may execute atransaction to fulfill the request for TFU's made by the ASH or the MMD.The cloud-based entity may execute the transaction in a manner thatprovides a best match of TFU's provided by one or more PSH's in anattempt by the cloud-based entity to maintain global optimization of thespectrum use in a region covered by the cloud-based entity. Operation ofthe method proceeds to Step S4300.

In Step S4300, the cloud-based entity may communicate to the ASH or MMDinformation regarding the TFU's made available as a result of thetransaction. This communication from the cloud-based entity may include,for example, an indication of the use profile for the MMD to access theTFU's, and/or may otherwise include parameters and conditions placed onthe availability of the TFU's by the PSH. Other information provided tothe MMD or the ASH will generally include an indication of a start timeand an end time defining an availability window for access to the TFU's.This information indicates to the ASH or MMD when the access toavailable spectrum is to be returned to the participating PSH. Operationof the method proceeds to Step S4400.

In Step S4400, the cloud-based entity may receive an indication from theparticipating PSH of a requirement to preemptively reclaim its TFU's. Asindicated above, the agreement by which spectrum is made available by aparticular PSH may be predicated on an ability to reclaim the spectrummade available to its own use by sending a “STOP” or “STOP <time>”message, or by providing other like indication to the cloud-basedentity, in the manner described above. Operation of the method proceedsto Step S4500.

In Step S4500, the cloud-based entity may communicate the requirement toreclaim the participating PSH'sTFU's to the ASH or MMD. Operation of themethod proceeds to Step S4600.

In Step S4600, the ASH or MMD, upon receipt of an indication that theTFU's are to be reclaimed may immediately cease operations involvingthose TFU's in order that the participating PSH may have full access toits exclusively-licensed spectrum without interference from operationsof individual MMD's not under its control. Operation of the methodproceeds to Step S4700, where operation of the method ceases.

FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of a second exemplary method forfacilitating connectivity and transactions between the differentelements of the CSS architecture according to this disclosure. As shownin FIG. 5, operation the method commences at Step S5000 and proceeds toStep S5100.

In Step S5100, a participating PSH may actively advertise foravailability to its TFU's, with associated parameters and conditions,directly with the global spectrum availability marketplace includingdirect marketing, for example, to ASH's or MMD's connected to the ASH's.The associated parameters and conditions may include a plurality of thespecific parameters and conditions discussed in detail above. Accordingto this method, the participating PSH takes a much more active role inthe marketplace than simply providing indication of spectrumavailability, with associated parameters and conditions, to for example,a CSD, as described in the [0068] Application. Operation of the methodproceeds to Step S5200.

In Step S5200, the participating PSH may receive individualized requestsfor availability to its TFU's, including an agreement to abide by anyspecified parameters and conditions, directly from ASH's or MMD'sdesiring access to those TFU's, or may receive transaction informationfrom a cloud-based entity, generally acting as a facilitator fortransactions and an optimizer of available spectrum use in a particularregion. Operation of the method proceeds to Step S5300.

In Step S5300, a spectrum availability transaction may be culminatedregardless of whether the transaction occurs directly between theparticipating PSH and one or more ASH's or MMD's, or the transaction isfacilitated by a cloud-based entity, such as a CSD or a CSB. Thesetransactions, whether direct or facilitated, may generally attempt tooptimally match requirements for spectrum availability by an ASH or MMDwith spectrum made available by one or more PSH's, the spectrumavailability being listed as a number of TFU's available for a certaincost, in the form of monetary contests compensation or otherconsideration per TFU. Operation of the method proceeds to Step S5400.

In Step S5400, a cloud-based entity may take a more active role in thespectrum availability marketplace by extending queries to, and receivingresponses from, one or more participating PSH's that may attempt tomatch known or anticipated needs of one or more ASH's or MMD's forspectrum availability to spectrum that may be made available by the oneor more participating PSH's. These efforts may supplement or supplantthe efforts of the participating PSH in advertising its availablespectrum. Operation of the method proceeds to Step S5500.

In Step S5500, the participating PSH may send a “STOP” or “STOP <time>”message regarding the in-use TFU's directly to an ASH and/or an MMDusing the in-use TFU's, or may send the message via the cloud-basedentity, to reclaim the in-use TFU's. The “STOP” or “STOP <time>” messageeffectively modifies the end time of any availability window for theTFU's. Operation of the method proceeds to Step S5600.

In Step S5600, when a cloud-based entity is, or has been, involved inthe transaction, or the “STOP” or “STOP <time>” message is received viaa cloud-based entity, the cloud-based entity may communicate therequirement to reclaim the participating PSH's TFU's to the ASH or MMD.Operation of the method proceeds to Step S5700.

In Step S5700, the ASH or MMD, upon receipt of an indication that theTFU's are to be reclaimed may immediately cease operations involvingthose TFU's in order that the participating PSH may have full access toits exclusively-licensed spectrum without interference from operationsof individual MMD's not under its control. Operation of the methodproceeds to Step S5800, where operation of the method ceases.

The disclosed embodiments may include a non-transitory computer-readablemedium storing instructions which, when executed by a processor ormultiple processors, may cause the processor or multiple processors toexecute all or some of the steps of a methods as outlined above.

The above-described exemplary systems and methods reference certainconventional terms and components to provide a brief, generaldescription of a suitable communication and processing environment inwhich the subject matter of this disclosure, and particularly thedisclosed interaction with one or more cloud-based entities, may beimplemented for familiarity and ease of understanding. Although notrequired, embodiments of the systems and methods according to thisdisclosure may be provided, at least in part, in a form of hardwarecircuits, firmware or software computer-executable instructions to carryout the specific functions described, including program modules, beingexecuted by a processor or processors. It should also be understood thatcertain of the functions described above may be carried out by virtuallogical elements that may be cloud-based. Generally, program modulesinclude routine programs, objects, components, data structures, and thelike that perform particular tasks or implement particular data types.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other embodiments of thedisclosed subject matter may be practiced with many types ofcommunication equipment and computing system configurations.

Embodiments may be practiced in distributed network and/or cloud-basedcommunication/computing environments where tasks are performed by localand remote processing devices that are linked to each other by hardwiredlinks, wireless links, or a combination of both through a communicationnetwork. In a distributed network environment, program modules may belocated in local, remote and virtual logical cloud-based data storagedevices.

Embodiments within the scope of this disclosure may also includenon-transitory computer-readable media having stored computer-executableinstructions or data structures that can be accessed, read and executedby processors using a compatible physical data reader, or executing anappropriate data reading scheme. Such computer-readable media can be anyavailable media that can be accessed by a processor or processors. Byway of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media cancomprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, flash drives, thumb drives,data memory cards or other analog or digital data storage devices thatcan be used to carry or store desired program elements or steps in theform of accessible computer-executable instructions or data structures.Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope ofthe computer-readable media for the purposes of this disclosure.

The exemplary depicted sequences of executable instructions, orassociated data structures for executing those instructions, representonly examples of corresponding sequences of acts for implementing thefunctions described in the methods. The steps of the methods, asdepicted and described, are not intended to imply any particular orderto the depicted steps, except as may be necessarily inferred when one ofthe depicted steps is a necessary precedential condition toaccomplishing another of the depicted steps. Many of the operations andfunctions described may occur in parallel.

Although the above description may contain specific details, they shouldnot be construed as limiting the claims in any way. Other configurationsof the described embodiments of the disclosed systems and methods arepart of the scope of this disclosure. This enables each user to use thebenefits of the disclosure even if any one of a large number of possibleapplications, for example, being accessed by any particular MMD, do notneed a specific aspect of the functionality described and depicted inthis disclosure. In other words, there may be multiple instances of thecomponents, particularly individual MMD's, each processing the contentin various possible ways. It does not necessarily need to be one systemused by all end users. Accordingly, the appended claims and their legalequivalents should only define the disclosure, rather than any specificexamples given.

We claim:
 1. A method for implementing dynamic spectrum access,comprising: initiating, by a first entity, a request for at least one ofavailable spectrum or bandwidth in a particular geographic region from acloud-based entity, the cloud-based entity having information onspectrum availability in the particular geographic region; receiving, bythe first entity from the cloud-based entity, access to a portion of thespectrum availability provided to the first entity as a result of atransaction undertaken by the cloud-based entity; and employing, by thefirst entity, the provided portion of the spectrum availability toconduct at least one of wireless voice and data communications, theinitiating and the receiving being undertaken by a processor associatedwith the first entity.
 2. The method of claim 1, the first entity beingone of a multi-mode wireless device or a wireless network operatorrepresenting a plurality of multi-mode wireless devices.
 3. The methodof claim 1, the spectrum availability being provided by at least onesecond entity with exclusively-licensed spectrum that the second entitymakes available to the cloud-based entity in the particular regionaccording to one or more conditions.
 4. The method of claim 3, the oneor more conditions including at least a start time and an end time forthe spectrum availability.
 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:receiving, by the first entity, an indication from the cloud-basedentity that the second entity communicated to the cloud-based entity arequest to reclaim the provided portion of the spectrum availability;and ceasing the employing of the provided portion of the spectrumavailability for conducting the at least one of the wireless voice anddata communications.
 6. The method of claim 5, the indication from thecloud-based entity including a time parameter by which the second entitywants use of the requested spectrum availability by the first entity tocease.
 7. The method of claim 3, the one or more conditions includingcost information represented as a cost per time-frequency unit appliedto the spectrum availability, the time-frequency unit including a commonamount of spectrum and a common time reference for the spectrumavailability.
 8. The method of claim 7, the common amount of spectrumbeing 1 MHz and the common time reference being 1 second resulting inthe cost per time-frequency unit being based on spectrum availability inmultiples of 1 MHz-1 second frequency-time tiles.
 9. The method of claim7, the request for available spectrum in the particular geographicregion including an indication of what the first entity is willing topay in monetary compensation or other consideration per time-frequencyunit for access to the requested available spectrum.
 10. The method ofclaim 1, the cloud-based entity being at least one of (1) acloud-spectrum database for dynamically and interactively cataloginginformation on spectrum availability and (2) a cloud spectrum brokerthat provides automated facilitation of transactions for the spectrumavailability between the first entities requesting spectrum and secondentities that provide access to spectrum in the particular geographicregion.
 11. A method for implementing dynamic spectrum access,comprising: advertising, by a second entity, available spectrum in aparticular geographic region that may be accessed by one or more firstentities requesting additional spectrum availability for an askingprice, the advertising being directed to at least one of (1) the one ormore first entities and (2) a cloud-based entity that facilitatestransactions regarding spectrum availability in the particulargeographic region; receiving, by the second entity from the at least oneof the one or more first entities and the cloud-based entity, a specificrequest to access a portion of the available spectrum including anamount of monetary consideration or other compensation offered for theaccess to the portion of the available spectrum action undertaken by thecloud-based entity; and concluding a transaction with the at least oneof the one or more first entities and the cloud-based entity to provideaccess to the portion of the available spectrum; and communicating theoutcome of the transaction to the at least one of the one or more firstentities and the cloud-based entity with information regarding theprovided access to the portion of the available spectrum to be used bythe one or more first entities for at least one of wireless voice anddata communications; one or more of the advertising, the receiving andthe concluding of the transaction being undertaken by a processorassociated with the second entity
 12. The method of claim 11, the one ormore first entities being one of multi-mode wireless devices or wirelessnetwork operators representing pluralities of multi-mode wirelessdevices.
 13. The method of claim 11, the advertising by the secondentity of the available spectrum in the particular geographic regionincluding one or more conditions on use of the spectrum.
 14. The methodof claim 13, the one or more conditions including at least a start timeand an end time for the spectrum availability.
 15. The method of claim14, further comprising initiating, by the second entity via theprocessor, an indication that the second entity intends to prematurelyreclaim the portion of the available spectrum to which access wasprovided as a result of the transaction.
 16. The method of claim 15, theindication from the second entity including a time parameter by whichthe second entity wants use of the portion of the available spectrum towhich access was provided as a result of the transaction to cease. 17.The method of claim 13, the one or more conditions including the askingprice being represented as a cost per time-frequency unit applied to thespectrum availability, the time-frequency unit including a common amountof spectrum and a common time reference for the spectrum availability.18. The method of claim 17, the common amount of spectrum being 1 MHzand the common time reference being 1 second resulting in the cost pertime-frequency unit being based on spectrum availability in multiples of1 MHz−1 second frequency-time tiles.
 19. The method of claim 1, thecloud-based entity being at least one of (1) a cloud-spectrum databasefor dynamically and interactively cataloging information on spectrumavailability and (2) a cloud spectrum broker that provides automatedfacilitation of transactions for the spectrum availability between thefirst entities requesting spectrum and second entities that provideaccess to spectrum in the particular geographic region.
 20. The methodof claim 19, further comprising the second entity receiving queries fromthe cloud-based entity regarding the available spectrum in theparticular geographic region that may be accessed by the one or morefirst entities, the second entity responding to those inquiries byproviding additional information on the available spectrum in theparticular geographic region.
 21. A system for implementing dynamicspectrum access, comprising: an external communication interface thatreceives (1) advertising regarding access to available spectrum that isexclusively licensed to one or more second entities in a particulargeographic region; and (2) requests from one or more first entities foraccess to the available spectrum, the advertising being directed to atleast one of (1) the one or more first entities and (2) a cloud-basedentity that facilitates transactions regarding spectrum availability inthe particular geographic region; and a processor that is programmed toexecute transactions between the one or more second entities and the oneor more first entities to satisfy the requests for the access to theavailable spectrum from the one or more first entities; and directcommunicating of the outcome of the transactions via the externalcommunication interface to involved second entities and correspondinglyinvolved first entities identifying portions of the available spectrumto be accessed by the one or more first entities for at least one ofwireless voice and data communications as a result of the transactions,the cloud-based entity being at least one of (1) a cloud-spectrumdatabase for dynamically and interactively cataloging information onspectrum availability and (2) a cloud spectrum broker that providesautomated facilitation of transactions for the available spectrumbetween the one or more first entities and the one or more secondentities in the particular geographic region.
 22. The system of claim21, the external communication interface communicating (1) queries fromthe cloud-based entity to the one or more second entities regarding theavailable spectrum in the particular geographic region that may beaccessed by the one or more first entities, and (2) responses from thesecond entities to the inquiries that provide additional information onthe available spectrum in the particular geographic region.
 23. Thesystem of claim 21, the one or more first entities being one ofmulti-mode wireless devices or wireless network operators representingpluralities of multi-mode wireless devices.
 24. The system of claim 21,the advertising by the one or more second entities of the availablespectrum in the particular geographic region including one or moreconditions on use of the spectrum.
 25. The system of claim 24, the oneor more conditions including at least a start time and an end time forthe access to the available spectrum.
 26. The system of claim 25, theprocessor being further programmed to receive from the one or moresecond entities an indication that the one or more second entitiesintend to prematurely reclaim the portion of the available spectrum towhich access was provided as a result of at least one of thetransactions; and communicate to the one or more first entities arequirement to cease the at least one of wireless voice and datacommunications in the prematurely reclaimed portion of the availablespectrum.
 27. The system of claim 26, the indication from the one ormore second entities including a time parameter by which the one or moresecond entities want use of the portion of the available spectrum towhich access was provided as a result of the transactions to cease. 28.The system of claim 24, the one or more conditions including an askingprice represented as a cost per time-frequency unit applied to thespectrum availability, the time-frequency unit including a common amountof spectrum and a common time reference for the spectrum availability,the common amount of spectrum being 1 MHz and the common time referencebeing 1 second resulting in the cost per time-frequency unit being basedon spectrum availability in multiples of 1 MHz-1 second frequency-timetiles.
 29. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storingcomputer-readable instructions which, when executed by a processor,causes the processor to execute a method for implementing dynamicspectrum access, the method comprising: initiating, by a first entity, arequest for available spectrum in a particular geographic region from acloud-based entity, the cloud-based entity having information onspectrum availability in the particular geographic region; receiving, bythe first entity from the cloud-based entity, access to a portion of thespectrum availability provided to the first entity as a result of atransaction undertaken by the cloud-based entity; and employing, by thefirst entity, the provided portion of the spectrum availability toconduct at least one of wireless voice and data communications.
 30. Anon-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readableinstructions which, when executed by a processor, causes the processorto execute a method for implementing dynamic spectrum access, the methodcomprising: advertising, by a second entity, available spectrum in aparticular geographic region that may be accessed by one or more firstentities requesting additional spectrum availability for an askingprice, the advertising being directed to at least one of (1) the one ormore first entities and (2) a cloud-based entity that facilitatestransactions regarding spectrum availability in the particulargeographic region; receiving, by the second entity from the at least oneof the one or more first entities and the cloud-based entity, a specificrequest to access a portion of the available spectrum including anamount of monetary consideration or other compensation offered for theaccess to the portion of the available spectrum action undertaken by thecloud-based entity; and concluding a transaction with the at least oneof the one or more first entities and the cloud-based entity for toprovide access to the portion of the available spectrum; andcommunicating the outcome of the transaction to the at least one of theone or more first entities and the cloud-based entity with informationregarding the provided access to the portion of the available spectrumto be used by the one or more first entities for at least one ofwireless voice and data communications.